Loose-leaf binder



April24, 1928. 1,667,511 H. o. COT TRELL LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan.15. 1925 J INVENTOR. a 1 4 7 By %zza),a2zd/z /z M TTORNE?.

Patented Apr. 24,1928.

UNITED STA ES 'HOLLAND D. German, or DETROIT, mcH IGfAN.

' i LOOSELEAF BINDER.

Application filed January 15, 1925. Serial No. 2,469.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders, and the object is to provide a simple and highly eflicient binder of inexpensive construct-ion adapted to be made in a Very cheap form as well as in the more expensive forms and in various sizes. r V

A feature of the invention is in the provision of straps or similar elements fixedly attached to the opposite cover members in a manner to achieve an object of the invention'namely, to provide a means that will bind the leaves and without adjustment of the straps will open practicallyfiat to permit removal or introduction of sheets. Heretofore, in binder-s of this class, straps have been used and adjusting devices employed to take up or release the straps depending on the quantity of leaves to bebound, and an object of this invention is. to secure a construction in which st-raps orthe like" are fixedly attached at the opposite ends and, due to the arrangement, tend to bind the sheets between the covers whether small or large in number and that is readilyreleased from binding position to one in which the straps are relieved of tensionpermitting the binder to be opened practically flat as previously stated. These and other objects and the various novelfeatures of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and the preferred form of a loose leaf binder embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which' Fig. lis a perspective view of a binder in partially opened position.

Fig. 2- is a cross section of the binder in closed position. 7

Fig. 3 is a cross section of thebinder in its usual open position. I Fig. 4 is a cross section of the binder re leased to permit the leaves to lie fiat.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a part of a leaf adapted for use with the binder and which is notched at its rear edge to engage about the straps,

The binder consists of two cover members 1 and 2 between which is the channel pocket 3 substantially rec-tangular'in form in cross section, the cover members preferably being integral therewith andseparated therefrom by scored lines at the points 4 and 5 providing hinge points for the covers and said channel pocket member being also preferably scoredv at 6 and 7 permitting the side wallsof the cover to be turned a hereinaft r mentioned. These cover membersmay be of any approved material preferably somewhat flexible in character and in the more expensive forms may be of any desired material of suflicient stiffness and covered with leather or other material to givethe desired appear an'ce So far as this invention is concerned,

it i-s'not material whether or not the members1- and2 are integral'with the channel member 3, it being possible to secure the covers to the channel members in any approved manner or to reinforce the same with a leather or cloth hinge member. One of the cover members, as for instance the member 1, is preferably provided with an inteurned flap 8 which may bescored-at 9 in practically hinged relation with the member 1 or may be attached thereto in any manner found desirable. The flap 8 serves as'an attachment for the strap ends to {the-cover land,

while the straps maybe attached directly to the member 1 near its edge, it is preferred to use-the flap'as it enables the cover member to 1 be flexed throughout its full length as indicated'at the left side of Fig- 3 and the point of connection of'the straps with the cover member is not placed under an excessive strain in' the flexing of the cover 1 and to which said point of 'connectionwould be sub- ,jected if connected directly with the edge of the member. 1.- To this flapS I therefore preferably secure the straps 10, and these straps extendalong the inside of the cover member l but unattachedthereto and across the channel pocket thru apertures provided at the hinge point 5 and-are attached to the Preferably I provide a secondary cover device formed of two members Hand 12 which may be of paper or otherdesired material and formed, as by scoring, to provide a channel pocket 13 therebet'ween as may be understood from Fig. 3. Both these inner cover members 11 and1'2 are apertured at the point of connection with the inner chane nel pocket to permit-the straps to passtherethrough across the open edge of the channel pocket and the leaves to be bound in place. The leaves or sheets 14: have a pair of notches .15 opening through the edge to a longer slotted portion 16 which provide the inwardly extending parts 17 shown in Fig. 5. These leaves, being usually of paper, are sufficiently flexible to enable them to be positioned over the straps which is of a Width practically equal to the slot 16, the part 17 engaging back of the strap and retaining the leaf in position as will be readily understood.

AS previously stated, the cover members, at least that member provided with a flap, more or less flexible in character and the straps are of a length tending to draw the hinge points 4 and 5 practically together when no leaves or sheets are in the pocket and when the sheets have been introduced, the cover 1 will be flexed to a greater or less degree drawing the hinge points 1 and 5 tightly into engagement therewith. binding the leaves or sheets in place. lt will be noted that a more or less number of leaves may be introduced without necessity of manually adjusting the straps, the arrangement providing a structure which is selfadjusting to hold one or a quantity of leaves.

Due to the straps 10 being attached at one end to the flap 8 and being otherwise unattached to the cover member 1 or the hinge points thereof, the said hinge point may be forced downward in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3 thus forcing the channel pocket 3 downward and toward the other cover to the position shown in Fig. 1. This causes a release of the tension on the straps as the outer cover member 1 is moved a distance practically equal to the depth of the channel pocket. This releases the tension of the straps permitting them to lie comia-ratively loosely as will be'understood from F l and the leaves will also lie flat upon either of the cover members. This enables the pocket to be opened widely for removal. or insertion of the sheets. This is the particular object of this invention to secure a self-adjusting binder that is capable of binding oneror a considerable number of sheets with equal facility and still is capable of manipulation to release the tension and permitting the binder to lie practically flat when opened at any point for introduction or re moval of the leaves. It is to be noted that the secondary cover members 11 and 19. are used principally to give a neat appearance to the binder and may be dispensed with if desired.

\Vith the construction described, the binder when closed will lie practically flat as shown in Fig. 2 but may be opened as an ordinary book, the leaves being bound in the channel pocket and generally occupying practically the position indicated in Fig. 3 and yet by 1,eev,511

merely moving the hinge point t out of the position shown in Fig. 3 to substantially that shown in Fig. 4, the tension is entirely relieved, the binding edges of the leaves are brought out of the pocket and may lie perfectly flat and loose on the straps permitting ready removal or insertion.

With a construction. permitting the covers to be turned about the points i, 5, 6 and 7, the structure upon movement of the hinge points l as stated readily assumes the position shown in Fig. 1 and is readily brought back to the position shown in Fig. 3 permitting the binder to be handled in the or dinary manner.

As previously stated, I prefer to form the cover members and pocket of a single piece of material scored at the points'stated to enable the same to assume the position shown in Figs. 3 and but the. flap 8 may be made of a separate piece if desired and connected to the free edge of the cover membe 1 and the channel pocket may also be formed of a separate piece to which the cover members are hinged respectively at the points 1 and 5.

In recapitulation, it is to be noted that by the flexing of one or both of the outer cover members a c-.rtain degree of slacliness in the straps or binder elements is caused. This facilitates movement of the hinge point 1- and the channel pocket downward away from the bound edge of the inserted leaves which therefore may spring out or may be raised out of the outer channel in which they are normally housed. it is tobe understood, however, that flexibility of one or both (JOVOl'F, although resulting in certain facility in manipulation of the deviceis not an actual necessity inasmuch as with. non-flexible covers the outer channel pocket may be manipulated uslmretoforo described and illustratcd in Figs. 2-3 and l to release the straps and permit the leaves or sheetsto'lie flat and while retained in position by the straps are otherwise looseand in unbound relation. it is further a very simple matter to bring the leaves to binding condition by forcing the outer channel pocket from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in F 3. It is also to be observed that while I have shmvn an inner-or secondary cover member provided with a channel pocket such memher may be diseensed with without depart ing from the spirit of this invention as is set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention. its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. It. loose leaf binder comprising a pair of outer cover members, a-channel pocket to whch the inner edges of the cover members are hingedly secured, there being apertures provided at the hinge point between one of lots the covers and the channel pocket, an inner cover member formed of a sheet of material shaped to provide a channel packet positioned in the channel pocket of the outer cover members, the said inner" cover members having apertures at each of the hinge points and a strap extendingthrough each aperture of the outer cover .member and through the apertures of the inner cover member and connected with the free edge of the other outer cover membeiythe' straps nesting in the channel pocket of theouter cover members, there being apertures in both the inner cover members at the hinge point and similar apertures at the hinge point of one of the outer cover members, apair of straps secured to the flap of the outer cover member and extending through the apertures and attached to the other outer cover, the straps having the intermediate portions unattached to the outer cover members, and a series of sheets positioned within the inner cover member and notched to fit over the straps passing theretjhrough.

3. A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of outer cover men'ibers'formed to provide a channel pocket at the center, the covers being hinged respectively to the'edgcs of the'channel pocket, an inturned flap at the free edge of one of the outer cover members, a pair of inner cover members of paper having a chan nel pocket positioned in the channel pocket of the outer cover members, a pair of straps secured to the flap of the said cover member and extending through apertures provided at the edges'of the channel pocket-of the inner cover member and through apertures at the hinge-point of the outer cover member opposite the flap and being permanently attached thereto, the straps intermediate the ends being free from connection with the outer cover members.

4. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a pair of outer cover members formed to provide a channel pocket at the center, an inturned flap at the free edge of one of the outer cover members, a pair of inner cover members having a channel pocket positioned in the channel pocket of the outer cover member, a pair of straps attached to the flap of thevouter cover member, and extending through apertures provided at the channel pocket of the inner cover member and attached-to the other outer cover member, said straps intermediate the ends being unattached tothe outer cover member.

.5. In a-loose leaf binder, a pair of cover members formed to provide a channel pocket at the center, one of the cover members being provided with an inturned flap, an inner pair of. cover members having a channel pocket seating 1n the channel pocket of'the outer cover member, and straps permanently attached to the flap of the outer cover member and extending across the channel pocket of the inner cover member and permanently attached at the opposite ends to the other outer cover member, the straps intermediate the ends being free from connection with the outer cover member.

6. In loose leaf binder, a pair of cover members, a channel pocket to the forward edges of which the respective cover members are hinged, a number of straps secured at opposite ends to the respective cover menibers and extending acrossthe channel pocket, the hinge point between one cover member and the respectiveside of the channel pocket being free from the straps, a series of leaves having notched edgw to engage about the straps, and being normally housed in the channel pocket, the construction permitting the said free edge of the channelpocket and connected edge of the respective cover member to be withdrawn from'engagement with the leaves and turnedabout the other hinge point thereby releasing the straps and permitting the leaves to be separated at the bound edge. I

7. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of cover members, an integral channel pocket therebetween to the respective edges of which the cover members are hingedly connected there being apertures provided'at the hinge point between one of the cover members and the channel pocket, a strap extending through each of the said apertures and attached directly to the cover member, the opposite ends of the straps being connected to thefree edge of the other cover member the intermediate portion thereofbeing unattached to the cover lllGl'llbGPPCl'llllttlDg the straps to be loosened,

a 'series of leaves engaging the straps and free to slide thereon when the straps are in non-taut relation, and means whereby the straps may be released from taut relationship permitting. removal or insertion of the leaves thereon. a

In testimony whereof, I. sign this specifi' cation. v

I HOLLAND-DCOTTRELL. 

